Multiple boolean inputs and outputs for device function blocks

• US 8,892,218 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shah, Harsh, Joe, James Edward, Feng, Jian, Song, Tao, Wei, Zhen
• Primary Examiner(s): JARRETT, RYAN A
• Application Number:
  US12/895,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20110202147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 700/12, 700/18
• US Class Current: 700/12
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/045 using logic state machines, consisting only of a memory or a programmable logic device containing the logic for the controlled machine and in which the state of its outputs is dependent on the state of its inputs or part of its own output states, e.g. binary decision controllers, finite state controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/054 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23258 GUI graphical user interface, icon, function bloc editor, labview
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23274 Link graphical data for display automatically into program
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25232 DCS, distributed control system, decentralised control unit

Abstract

The present invention provides techniques for splitting bundled inputs and outputs into separated Boolean inputs and outputs for function blocks of automation devices. More specifically, previously-defined bundled inputs and outputs may be used, whereas separated Boolean inputs and outputs may be used as well. In other words, the newly added Boolean inputs and outputs do not replace, but rather compliment, the previously defined bundled inputs and outputs.

Claims

1. A method for distributed control of a process, comprising:

accessing a multi-Boolean function block configured to receive a plurality of inputs, to perform multiple Boolean logical operations based on the inputs, and to output any one of a plurality of logical outputs based upon the Boolean logical operations, wherein the plurality of inputs are accessible from the multi-Boolean function block as both a single bundle of the plurality of inputs and as the plurality of individual inputs, and the plurality of logical outputs are accessible from the multi-Boolean function block as both a single bundle of the plurality of logical outputs and as the plurality of individual logical outputs;

configuring the multi-Boolean function block for a particular automation process; and

downloading the configured multi-Boolean function block into a low-level distributed automation device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-Boolean function block comprises non-transitory code configured in an object oriented programming language.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the low-level distributed automation device comprises an input/output terminal block.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the low-level distributed automation device comprises a push-button block.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the low-level distributed automation device comprises a relay.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the low-level distributed automation device comprises a motor drive or motor starter.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the low-level distributed automation device comprises an overload relay.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the low-level distributed automation device comprises a motor drive.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the low-level distributed automation device comprises a motor starter.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the multi-Boolean function block comprises selectively configuring a plurality of memory registers from which the multi-Boolean function block reads the plurality of inputs as either the single bundle of the plurality of inputs or as the plurality of individual inputs based on input/output requirements of the low-level distributed automation device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the multi-Boolean function block comprises selectively configuring a plurality of memory registers to which the multi-Boolean function block writes the plurality of logical outputs as either the single bundle of the plurality of logical outputs or as the plurality of individual logical output based on input/output requirements of the low-level distributed automation device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein during operation, the low-level distributed automation device is coupled to an automation controller via a network, but receives the plurality of inputs and outputs any one of the plurality of outputs without command from the automation controller.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inputs comprises at least three inputs.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of logical outputs comprises at least three outputs.

15. The method of claim 1, comprising configuring at least one gain value into the multi-Boolean function block, the gain value being multiplied by at least one of the inputs received by the multi-Boolean function block.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the multi-Boolean function block comprises a proportional-integral-derivative function block.

17. The method of claim 1, comprising uploading the multi-Boolean function block from the low-level distributed automation device to a configuration station.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising displaying function blocks that are programmed into the low-level distributed automation device via the configuration station.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the low-level distributed automation device is configured to control local operations of the low-level distributed automation device without communication with other automation devices.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the low-level distributed automation device is not a programmable logic controller.

21. A method for distributed control of a process, comprising:

accessing a multi-Boolean function block configured to receive a plurality of inputs, to perform multiple Boolean logical operations based on the inputs, and to output any one of a plurality of logical outputs based upon the Boolean logical operations, wherein the multi-Boolean function block comprises non-transitory code configured in an object oriented programming language, and wherein the plurality of inputs are accessible from the multi-Boolean function block as both a single bundle of the plurality of inputs and as the plurality of individual inputs, and the plurality of logical outputs are accessible from the multi-Boolean function block as both a single bundle of the plurality of logical outputs and as the plurality of individual logical outputs;

configuring the multi-Boolean function block for a particular automation process, wherein configuring the multi-Boolean function block comprises;

selectively configuring a plurality of memory registers from which the multi-Boolean function block reads the plurality of inputs as either the single bundle of the plurality of inputs or as the plurality of individual inputs based on input/output requirements of a low-level distributed automation device into which the multi-Boolean function block is to be downloaded;

or

selectively configuring a plurality of memory registers to which the multi-Boolean function block writes the plurality of logical outputs as either the single bundle of the plurality of logical outputs or as the plurality of individual logical output based on the input/output requirements of the low-level distributed automation device; and

downloading the configured multi-Boolean function block into the low-level distributed automation device, wherein the low-level distributed automation device comprises an input/output terminal block, a push-button block, a relay, a motor drive, or a motor starter, and wherein the low-level distributed automation device is configured to control local operations of the low-level distributed automation device without communication with other automation devices.

22. The method of claim 21, comprising uploading the multi-Boolean function block from the low-level distributed automation device to a configuration station.

23. The method of claim 22, comprising displaying function blocks that are programmed into the low-level distributed automation device via the configuration station.